Bryant, Lakers rally from 25 down to sink Hornets

Kobe Bryant (right) celebrates with teammate Jodie Meeks after scoring in the final minute of Wednesday's 108-102 victory at New Orleans. GERALD HERBERT, AP

NEW ORLEANS – Kobe Bryant poured all his energy into the fourth quarter.

What came out was something miraculous.

The Lakers put together a season-saving comeback, roaring back from 25 points down to stun the lowly New Orleans Hornets, 108-102, on Wednesday night.

Bryant, 34, shook his head at Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni after playing the entire third quarter, an indication Bryant refused to come out of the game despite logging 39 minutes the previous night despite a sore right elbow. Bryant was winded midway through the fourth quarter, when he was dominating the ball and going all out every possession, but he found something else to keep him going – desire to connect this team for more unlikely success in the postseason.

"Games like this really strengthen the bond between us players," Bryant said after the Lakers won despite being down by 18 a minute into the fourth and still down 15 with 6:23 left. "And that's really what the playoffs are about: When you have adversity, it's about who's going to stick together and who's not going to break."

Bryant shot 7 of 8 from the field and 3 of 3 from the line with four assists and one turnover in the fourth. Yet he raved about the work Dwight Howard did anchoring the Lakers' defense. Said Howard: "Our defense stepped up. We have to build off this and play this way every night. We can do it."

It was in New Orleans in early December that the Lakers saw Howard yell at Bryant for lack of defensive focus. The defense was even worse most of this night with Howard in foul trouble, but then the Lakers' All-Stars turned it into one memorable moment together.

Bryant had 42 points on 14-of-21 shooting, 12 assists and seven rebounds. Howard had 20 points, 15 rebounds, four blocks and three steals.

And the Lakers are now 11/2 games behind No. 8 Utah and two games behind No. 7 Houston in pursuit of a Western Conference playoff berth.

User Agreement

Keep it civil and stay on topic. No profanity, vulgarity, racial
slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about
tragedies will be blocked. By posting your comment, you agree to
allow Orange County Register Communications, Inc. the right to
republish your name and comment in additional Register publications
without any notification or payment.